For the first time since launching this humble beer blog I am not looking forward to this week's Drink It With Us Friday beer.  In fact, I am downright TERRIFIED, and you should be too.  Not only is this Friday, October 31, 2008, the spookiest days of the year (besides National Potato Day, of course), but we will also be drinking one of the most bone chilling beers out there; Great Lakes Brewing Company's, Nosferatu. While I haven't tried Nosferatu yet, I am sure I will like it, as the style always appeals to me.  Nosferatu, a seasonal beer, is available only September-October, is a strong red ale.  It should be pretty hoppy with sweet and sugary malt undertones. The beer is actually named after a 1922 black and white film that covers the story of a German vampire.  Because we here at THFB care about the drinking experience of you, our readers, so much, we have included a link to the actual film (here) this monstrous beer is named after.  So this Friday, kick back, pour yourself a Great Lakes Brewing CO. Nosferatu, and enjoy the show...just don't blame us for your nightmares.

I was looking on our blog stats for this site the other day.  We have been up for a couple of months now, and I've really enjoyed writing.  There were days that I we got 2, 4, or 6 hits.  Now we are averaging 30 or so hits a day.  One day we even got 98 hits.  I was hoping for two more.  Now we have reached a little over 1000 hits on our blog.  There are blogs out there that get thousands or even millions of hits a day.  Am I jealous?  In one sense I am.  Those sites make money or fame for people.  Those sites are well established and look to be around for quite a while.  In another sense, I am not jealous at all.  Those who become interested in this site are discriminating readers and beer drinkers. Many sites appeal to a mass audience that really has nothing to say, contribute, or add to the conversation.  We count on those who read this site to be passionate about the subjects written on the site.  We desire that those who get on here have something unique to add to the content.  To that end, I want to encourage you, the ...

Some seemingly oxymoronic things fit so well together, that when combined they result in brilliance:   Peanut butter and pickles, Guns and Roses, Alec Baldwin and Jack Donaghy, and beer and politics.  Of course, as per the theme of this blog necessitates, I intend on focusing on the latter of these medleys (although Axl and Alec tempt me to stray).  I do hope this post results in deeper, much more intellectual, ponderings in the future, whether in the seldom utilized comments section, or in posts to come. First off, tip of the hat to you, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for your satirical commitment to patriotism and clever marketing in your recent "Alection."  (If the stars align and you find your way to this humble brewski shrine, please, feel free to send us a sample of you life's labor).  Half Moon Bay has made it possible for all us Joe-the-Plumbers of America to show our love for our candidate of choice to all those who sidle up to the bar next to us.  They have filled thousands of bottles with the same recipe and dressed them up in either Obama labels or McCain labels.  Supposedly, this will shed some light on the ...

This article is what you might call an inspired tirade.  I don't think I can inspire like William Wallace in Braveheart, but here goes.  Maybe instead of leading you into battle against an oppressive foe, I can smooth talk you into taking a chance.  Here is the chance that I propose: drink as many different types of beer as often as you can.  As the picture shows, the world is a much smaller place then it used to be. There was a time in history that world beers were very difficult to get.  With the increase in industrialization, there was a commensurate increase in beer availability.  Now we can get beers that were impossible to get years back.  The two options that were available to the consumer: go to a country to have the option to drink various beers or go without.  Now with technological advances in brewing, refrigeration, and shipping, there are a gambit of beers that people could only dream of trying.  How neglectful would it be if we kept drinking the same swill (or even the same good beer for that matter). What inspired me to write this?  Well, I have been to a few places lately that have 700 to ...

Well, lads and lassies, this was not a "normal" Scottish Ale.  I'm used to Scottish ales being more assertive and malty.  Generally, there is also a higher alcohol in a lot of beer that we get here in the U.S of A.  My main goal for a Scottish ale is for it to get me hiking up my kilt after two or three of 'em.  Okay! time to be serious. Although the beer is only 4% ABV, don't let that fool you.  It is far fuller than many a beer (especially of the commercial variety).  When I poured my beer into the glass, I noted its deep reddish-brown color.  It smacked of a lovely lassie's hair.  Gorgeous in the glass.  There was a light brown and creamy, long-lasting head on the brew.  It was fairly spritzy and active as I looked at it in the glass.  The aesthetics of the ale were very nice. When I sniffed this concoction, I noted a hoppy aroma.  It was flowery in its hoppy aspects.  The hops were not overpowering in that I also noted a dry malty and metallic odor in the beer.  Also noticeable in the beer was the yeast aroma and a hint of fruits (maybe cherries, which was touched upon in the ...

This beer comes from the Orkney Brewery in Quoyloo Scotland.  Their most famous beer (at least in the U.S) is Skull Splitter.  That beer is a more traditional (heavy or wee heavy) Scottish ale.  This simply means that you can count on a notable sweetness and maltiness from the brew with very little hops.  Not so with this brew.  From the description of this beer, it is quite hoppy.  This is not normal or expected from many Scottish Ales.  A result of increasing world awareness, globalization, and experimentation within traditions?  Maybe.  Either way this beer is actually half the alcohol of their more established beer.  So, the 4% ABV of Red MacGregor  is not the meant to be like, nor do I expect it to be like, Skull Splitter.  The beer may have to be bought warm.  You'll be able to find the beer in a (slightly over) pint bottle.  It cost me $5.99 to pick this one up.  I hope you can drink it with us.

Recently my wife came home from grocery shopping with a six pack in hand.  Since she had been at Walmart and made no other stops, her choice was limite, so she decided to let us give Budweiser's new journey into clearly charted water a chance...Budweiser American Ale.  So I poured a glass.  It looked better than I thought it would in the glass; however, the reddish hue was far lighter and clearer than my expectations allow.  The fragrance was strangley familiar.  What did it smell like...it was so familiar...oh yeah, Budweiser American Lager.  The way of describing the flavor is by comparison.  Imaging a pint glass filled 2/3 with Bud, 1/3 with a mild ale (e.g. Bass Pale Ale), and a pinch of read foold coloring for good measure and you have a prety good idea.  If I were to grade this beer against the world of Ales out there, I'd give it an F, but if all the other products put out by Budweiser were the standard, sure, it would get an A. Will Budweiser American Ale last?  No...but not because it has underachieved at quality.  Here's why...the cap is pry off, not twist off. Here's where I am going with ...

Well, as some of you know, our blog tries to be reader sensitive.  One thing we pride ourselves on is giving our reader something that truly interests them.  Given that many of the readers on here right now are linking from the Cigar Aficionado website, I thought I would give them something to read.  First, let me say that this is not the first time I have brought up the cigar-beer combination.  In fact, I mentioned what I was smoking along with the beer.  But I did not offer an apologetic for a cigar with a beer at the time.  Here goes!  Many of us are familiar with the concept of drinking Scotch with a cigar.  Companies like Dalmore even make a specific cigar malt Scotch (although I actually enjoy their 12 year more).  There are those who drink a good Bourbon with a cigar.  Even Cognac has made its way into certain cigars.  But where is the beer love? With all its complexities, beer is a wonderful complement to a cigar.  Of course, this depends on which cigar and which beer we are talking about.  Let me offer up my humble opinion.  For those who sing to the tune of  Scotch or ...

First off, I have to comment on the bottle.  I have noted in the past that a beer, at times, may seem to taste better with correct application of ambiance.  The bottle does that for me.  Untwisting the wire clasp and popping the cork hyped up my anticipation.  It made me think, "this is going to be a good beer."  The bigger brewery conglomerations have been applying this as a form of marketing with their "craft beers."  Michelob's Amber Bock is no longer twist off, but pry off.  I am sure Michelob hopes their consumers take notice and equate it with a micro-brew. The scent of the beer was strong as I poured it into my goblet.  The color was a hazy, but not cloudy, dark chocolate color.  Digging my nose into the goblet, I caught whiffs of sweet malt, fruit, alcohol, wood, and a subtle mocha/coffee smell.  While I am far from developing my olfactory sensors, it was clear that this was a complex beer. Three Philosophers entered and exited my mouth with suitable smoothness despite the fact that it was more carbonated than I had expected.  A burst of fruity sweetness and a malty bread flavor greeted my tongue, I ...

In an earlier post I alluded to the fascinating connection between beer and religion.  Unbeknownst to many of our readers, both authors of this site have an educational background in theology.  Unavoidably thus, when two passions intersect we take notice.   Below is a beautiful--and outstanding paragon of journalistic excellence-- AP article that explores the historical connection of God and beer.  After reading the article, let us know what you think! ____________________________________________________________________ DENVER — In the beginning, there was a long line for Judgment Day ale. Shortly after the doors opened on the 27th Great American Beer Festival, a crowd congregated at the booth offering that and other pours from The Lost Abbey of San Marcos, Calif., where the tap handle is a Celtic cross and the legacy of beer-brewing monks endures. Standing under a banner promising "Inspired beers for Saints and Sinners Alike," proprietor and former altar boy Tomme Arthur had a confession: He's using God to sell some beer. "It's the oldest story ever told — the struggle between good and evil," said Arthur, 35, a product of Catholic schools in his native San Diego. "There is a battle being waged between those who make good beer and those who make evil beer." Without question, ...